Asian Pacific Journal of Health Sciences

An Introduction to Keraliya Panchakarma – A Systematic Review

Avvinish Narine, Fatemeh Moazzamipeiro, Surendra Vedpathak — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Panchakarma is an ancient Ayurvedic healing system that has been practiced in India for thousands of years. It is a holistic approach to wellness that focuses on balancing the body, mind, and spirit through a combination of procedures. In Keraliya Panchakarma, the Ayurvedic scholars in Kerala have adjusted some approaches and found them to be highly efficient based on Ayurvedic principles. While the treatment principles remain rooted in the ancient textual tradition of Ayurveda, their distinctive treatment techniques have been enhanced over centuries through an intimate interaction with Keralan folk medicine. The traditional Panchakarma procedures are Vamana (therapeutic emesis), Virechana (therapeutic purgation), Basti (medicated enema), Nasya (errhine therapy), and Raktamokshana (bloodletting). Keraliya Panchakarma is a more simplified process that includes Navarakizhi, Annalepana, Pizhichil, Dhara, and Thalapotichil. Objectives: This article lists the different types of Keraliya Panchakarma in detail and further goes on to describe how and when to perform each procedure, the materials required, the benefits, the indications, and contraindications. Materials and Methods: Inclusion criteria include books that focus on Keraliya Panchakarma and its various aspects. Exclusion criteria are those studies not written in the English language, studies with inadequate methodological quality, and those that do not meet the defined objectives of the review. Discussion: A detailed description of the following five Keraliya Panchakarma procedures was collected and presented. These are Navarakizhi, Annalepana, Pizhichil, Dhara, and Thalapotichil. The conciseness and simplicity of the procedures mentioned here can be reproduced and performed by any Ayurveda practitioner with a desire to do so. Some limitations of the study may be the limited availability of high-quality studies on the topic, language differences, and differences in the interpretation of cultural practices. Conclusion: Keraliya Panchakarma is recognized to be a highly efficient treatment modality based on Ayurveda principles of Panchakarma procedures developed and perfected by the Vaidyas of Kerala and it can be adopted by Ayurveda practitioners everywhere.

Hypoglycemic Encephalopathy – A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Glucose is an essential carbohydrate for brain function. Even a short-lasted acute drop in its levels can result in cerebral dysfunction and even death. Early treatment of and decreasing duration of hypoglycemia episodes increases life expectancy and improves the level of consciousness. Furthermore, pharmacological symptoms’ management should be continued for at least 2 weeks after hospital admission aiming to preserve the integrity of brain function and the wider well-being of patients.

Knowledge and Beliefs Regarding Physiotherapy among General Population: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Survey

Vishali Sharma, Ammar Suhail, Sarah Quais — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Physiotherapy is an established health-care profession that assists individuals in maintaining, improving, and restoring body functions to live a disability-free life. Lack of education and awareness among the general population may affect the use of physiotherapy care. At large, awareness and beliefs affect the autonomy, growth, and utilization of physiotherapy services. Therefore, a cross-sectional survey of the general population was conducted to investigate knowledge and beliefs. The survey yielded a total of 138 responses. The survey consisted of three sections: introduction, essential information, and questions related to knowledge and beliefs about physiotherapy (PT) practice. The majority of the respondents were aware of physiotherapy (87%). A low level of awareness was found about consulting a physiotherapist as the first contact practitioner; 69% (n = 95) of respondents said they needed a referral for physiotherapy services. Most study participants, 87% (n = 120), lacked awareness of various specialties in physiotherapy. Some prevailing beliefs were identified within the population, with 88% (n = 122) holding the notion that “physiotherapy is always painful.” In addition, most respondents expressed that physiotherapy services are crucial for patients in the intensive care unit. Although the study participants were aware of the term physiotherapy, many other domains related to physiotherapy need to be highlighted, and the public needs to be informed about the scope of physiotherapy practice and its role in the health-care system.